But then there is the matter of redbud seedlings. It began with one, which sprouted in my butterfly garden in 2006. It was my first spring in my new garden, which at the time was essentially a football field with a couple of lantanas growing at the 20 yard-line. I admired Nature's pluck, the way she had no doubt been throwing seedlings on this piece of land every year for over a century, only to have them dug up by a farmer's plow or later beheaded by a lawnmower, so I decided that this tree would be the first successful re-colonizer of my backyard.
Knowing that it will eventually throw more shade than I want in the butterfly garden, I moved it across the field and down to about the five yard line, where I let things grow kind of wild, and there it is growing nicely.
This year, another redbud sprouted in one of my new beds, in the exact spot where I had been contemplating putting a small tree. I took this as a sign that a tree was indeed meant to go there, and am now tending to it as well. (Not that they need much tending--mainly it amounts to shouting "Don't step on my tree!" every time Teresa ventures in that part of the garden. She responds with some remark about curmudgeons, which pleases me greatly. Not all wives are so supportive of their husband's career aspirations.
Anyway, back to redbuds. They are coming up everywhere now. Two in Teresa's birdbath garden, which she says must be moved this fall as she is not growing a forest there; two or three more in the butterfly garden, and still more along the fence. Every time I weed, I see another two or three little redbuds, and I know I don't have room for all of them, but somehow I always seem to miss them as I pull the grass, pokeweed, and other stuff from around them. I fear that this may get out of hand.
At least my yard...er...forest...will be pretty in spring!
